Feds Revamp Critical Habitat Proposal For Jaguar

Federal wildlife officials are proposing to designate more critical habitat in the American Southwest for the jaguar.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week released a revamped proposal for setting aside more than 1,340 square miles of habitat in Arizona and New Mexico for the rare cat. That's 31 square miles more than the previous proposal.

The agency says the revision reflects the cats' use of a wider range of vegetated areas and eliminates high elevations not frequented by jaguars.

With the change, the agency has reopened the public comment period for the revised rule along with the drafteconomic analysis and draft environmental assessment.

The comment period will end Aug. 9.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is also planning a public meeting July 30 in Sierra Vista, Ariz.